"...My first instinct was to spew glowingly about the vocals (holy shit, they're phenomenal), but the axes really shine here as well. In this musical era when bands are falling over themselves to prove how ironic or authentic they can be (whatever the fuck that means), it's fantastic to hear a group ignore all that noise, lock themselves into their grooves and let it rip..."

Somewhere on a dusty road or a well traveled interstate, right at this very moment, a rock n’ roll band is pounding the rock. They’re probably wearing the same clothes they had on yesterday, and reminiscing about last night’s gig. Inspired by a guitar lick that cuts to the bone or a melody that lingers on refrain, this band is following a path forged by countless other musicians who’ve lived and died in dive bars or ‘made it’ with their posters taped to bedroom walls. What makes this band of brothers any different? This band is The Artisanals.

Johnny Delaware grew up in a small South Dakota town surrounded by cornfields and dirt roads. For 19 years, he lived in a wide-eyed perspective baptized in the setting of a John Mellencamp song. In order to personally evolve and carry out his musical destiny, Delaware knew that the heartland wind would have to blow him around the country. Eventually, Delaware would move to Charleston, SC and team up with guitarist Clay Houle, drummer Josh Hoover, and bassist Eric Mixon to form The Artisanals in late 2016. Within a year of forming, The Artisanals dropped their four-track debut EP, Literally, Anywhere, and promptly received critical acclaim from Huffington Post, Paste Magazine, Daytrotter, PopMatters.

Now, The Artisanals are set to drop their debut self-titled full length album. Produced by Wolfgang Zimmerman and set to release on AWAL on September 21, 2018, The Artisanals, is the first ever record to come out of the Magic Barn – an Iowa studio-converted-barn that features the Neve console and gear from NYC’s now defunct Magic Shop Studio which recorded David Bowie’s last two albums, Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs, and can be seen on Dave Grohl’s Sonic Highways.

With sonic influences ranging from the heartland rock of Bruce Springsteen (“Angel 42”), and neo-psychedelia anthems of My Morning Jacket (“Pound The Rock”), to the dream-pop work of The Cars and The War On Drugs (“Drag”), The Artisanals 10-track LP showcases Delaware and Houle’s knack for writing hooks as well as their ear for quality production. The album utilizes everything from a gong, organ, piano, sitar, french horn, trombone, and koto, to a string section sourced from the nearby University of Iowa. Mastered by Howie Weinberg, (Spoon, Ryan Adams, Nirvana), there’s no filler on The Artisanals. From start to finish, this record is a straight banger.

Even though Blis is pretty young, the Atlanta four-piece is already drawing comparisons to some of indie rock’s biggest names. Though it’s quick to namecheck Weatherbox and American Football, the band has had other heavy-hitters like Modest Mouse and Silversun Pickups lobbed at it as well. The A.V. Club is streaming all of the band’s debut EP, Starting Fires In My Parents House, ahead of its release next week on Soft Speak Records. The EP’s angst-drenched title explains what makes Blis so potent, as the band is quick to put a torch to its influences, while also making the case that it’s the rightful heir to all sorts of respective thrones.

“[Blis] is quick to put a torch to its influences, while also making the case that it’s the rightful heir to all sorts of respective thrones.” - A.V. Club